Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN DEAD FOR TWENTY YEARSMichael sat at the kitchen table.
For the first time since his supposed death, he was home.
I couldn't stop looking at him.
Every movement.
Every breath.
I was afraid he would disappear again.
Arthur sat opposite him.
“Tell me everything.”
Michael nodded.
“Twenty years ago, I discovered the network.”
“We know.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You know the surface.”
He explained that the Moretti ledger was not simply a criminal record.
It contained evidence of a secret financial system used by powerful people to move stolen money through legitimate businesses.
The system had survived for generations.
Michael discovered it while auditing one of the companies.
He copied everything.
Then someone tried to kill him.
“I survived.”
I whispered:
“Because of the medication.”
“Yes.”
“Richard?”
“No.”
Michael looked at me.
“Your daughter-in-law's father.”
Victoria's father.
“Thomas?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Michael sighed.
“Eleanor…”
I looked at him.
“The person who ordered my death was someone I trusted completely.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“Who?”
Michael stared at the floor.
“Your uncle Richard was involved.”
“We know.”
“But he didn't give the order.”
“Then who?”
Michael looked toward Julian's empty chair.
“Julian's biological father.”
Silence.
Arthur frowned.
“I'm sorry?”
Michael nodded.
“Julian wasn't my biological son.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Michael took my hand.
“I loved him as my son.”
I couldn't speak.
“Who was his father?”
Michael looked at me.
“Daniel Mercer.”
The name from the old files.
The man everyone thought was dead.
The man connected to Coleman.
I shook my head.
“No.”
Michael nodded.
“Daniel had a relationship with someone before you.”
“Who?”
He looked toward the photograph on the wall.
“Your sister.”
I froze.
“My sister?”
Michael nodded.
“Margaret.”
I stared at the woman who had stood beside me for years.
The woman who had brought flowers every Christmas.
Margaret was Julian's biological mother.
I couldn't breathe.
Michael continued.
“She gave Julian to us because Daniel was dangerous.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“I was twenty-two.”
I looked at her.
“You never told me.”
“I was ashamed.”
“You let me raise your child without knowing.”
“I thought it would keep him safe.”
Arthur stared at Margaret.
“And Daniel?”
“Dead,” she whispered.
Michael shook his head.
“No.”
Everyone froze.
“He's alive.”
Margaret's face went white.
Michael continued:
“He has been hiding for years.”
Arthur stood.
“Where?”
Michael pointed toward the old photograph.
“He owns the company that Julian works with.”
I stared.
Julian's employer.
The company that had recently offered him a promotion.
The same company Victoria had claimed was expanding overseas.
Michael said:
“Daniel has been controlling Julian.”
Arthur clenched his fists.
“That explains the transfers.”
“Yes.”
“And the ledger?”
“Daniel wants it.”
I looked toward Michael.
“Why?”
“Because the ledger contains evidence that Daniel is the real beneficiary of the network.”
Arthur shook his head.
“Then why target Mom?”
Michael looked at me.
“Because the house contains the proof.”
We searched the house again.
This time Michael directed us.
He walked into my bedroom.
He stood beside the old wardrobe.
Then he touched the floor.
“Here.”
Arthur lifted the boards.
A metal compartment appeared.
Inside was a small recording device.
Michael smiled sadly.
“I left it here twenty years ago.”
He pressed play.
His younger voice filled the room.
Daniel Mercer ordered the operation.
I froze.
He intends to use my wife and sons as leverage.
Then came another voice.
Daniel.
If you don't cooperate, Eleanor dies.
I covered my mouth.
Michael continued.
I will fake my death.
Daniel laughed.
Then I'll take the family apart piece by piece.
The recording ended.
Arthur stared.
“Why did Dad disappear?”
Michael answered:
“To make Daniel believe he had won.”
Then another recording began automatically.
Daniel's voice.
Once Michael is gone, Eleanor will eventually sell the house.
Julian will handle the rest.
I stared.
Julian.
Michael looked at me.
“He never betrayed us willingly.”
“Then why did he hide the truth?”
“Because Daniel threatened him.”
I began crying.
“My son was protecting us.”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, the front door slammed.
Arthur ran downstairs.
A car was speeding away.
He chased it outside.
But the vehicle disappeared.
On the ground was a single envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Daniel Mercer.
Alive.
Standing beside a teenage Julian.
On the back:
You found me. Now find your son.
May you like
Arthur's face went pale.
Julian was missing.
